Ações educativas sobre doenças articulares não traumáticas: medidas de prevenção e tratamento

Abstract

This work aimed to study the measures of treatments and prevention of degenerative joint disease in dogs, aiming to explain their clinical signs and main means of diagnosis. Questionnaires were applied to 150 owners of patients treated at HVU- UEMA from January to February, 2017. Quality of life of the animal, physical activity, type of diet, level of owners' knowledge about degenerative joint diseases, of joint changes and frequency of visits to the veterinarian. Regarding the sex of the animals, 53% were male and 47% female. Regarding age, 47.5% of the animals were younger than five years old and 52.5% were older than five years. In relation to the races, 55% of the animals had a defined race (SRD) while 45% of the animals belonged to some race. As for the practice of physical activity, 41% walked, 32% ran and 27% exercised some other activity, such as swimming and therapies. Regarding the food offered to the animals, 54% are fed exclusively by ration, 33% are fed by mixtures between homemade food and homemade food and ration and 13% are fed exclusively by homemade food. As for the degree of knowledge of the owners most of them have knowledge about joint diseases. We identified that 50 animals had some degree of lameness, usually changes caused by trauma. When questioned about how often the animal goes to the veterinarian, 56% of owners take their animals once or twice a year, 25% take only when they have a change and 19% take their animals every three months. The latter follow veterinary and vaccination guidelines for vaccination and worming. We conclude that HVU treated animals, in general, have a satisfactory frequency of exercise and adequate feeding, measures used to prevent joint diseases. Owners have some knowledge regarding degenerative joint disease and its treatments. The frequency of visits to the veterinarian is satisfactory, and this is an attitude that aims to prevent possible changes, including joint diseases. The veterinary-owner relationship increases the possibility of using preventive, symptomatic and / or continuous therapies in affected patients.